Gunpoint robbers get busted minutes after stealing cash from a victim on the street in Ridgewood

A pair of teenagers who recently pulled a gun on a man in Ridgewood and stole his wallet quickly found themselves in cuffs a few blocks away.

The incident took place on June 6 at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Menahan Street near Grandview Avenue, when Emanuel Cerge, 18, and Legrier Malik, 16, ran into their victim while walking on the sidewalk.

As the victim walked past, Malik bumped his shoulder and then turned around to confront the victim, according to the criminal complaint provided by the Queens County District Attorney’s office.

The victim tried to run away when Cerge and Malik allegedly began walking toward him, but they caught up to the victim and Cerge pulled out a silver revolver and pointed it at his chest, court records show.

Cerge and Malik demanded the victim’s money, according to the complaint, and Cerge reached into the victim’s pockets and took out his wallet containing $133, five credit cards and his New York State driver’s license. Malik then patted down the victim’s rear pockets and he and Cerge fled the location together.

Less than 15 minutes later, records show, officers from the 104th precinct spotted the suspects approximately six blocks away from where the crime allegedly took place. The officers arrested them and found $100 in Cerge’s pants pocket and $33 from Malik’s pants pocket.

A Queens County judge then issued a search warrant for Malik’s residence on Onderdonk Avenue. Upon searching the residence, officers found a suitcase that contained a silver air pistol revolver in between the wall and the couch in the living room, according to the complaint.

Cerge and Malik have both been charged with robbery in the first degree and robbery in the second degree. They were each released on $10,000 bond and are due back in court on June 26.